Dragonicora: How can I not like it? Cuz I made some serious mistakes in the old chapters like Max's and stuff. And you really are a great writer. You're the one who doesn't believe it. :P Some of the newer chapters that I had revised are a heckuva lot better than the old ones. ; I just wish I wasn't so lazy and just revied the others too, but I didn't have that much time to do it in class.
Chapter 8: The Preparations Begin
"Now that was weird," Danielle mumbled, getting up from the chair. Karim had given his life to be the protector of the Artifact in that temple. "Actually, that was the same place Pious had gone to. There were three Artifacts there, and he took one. Karim was protecting the green one, so where's the third one?"
Danielle heard the door the study open and close, and Alex walked into the library. She seemed calmer than she had before, and Danielle figured Alex had used the new Recover spell. It was a good thing, too, because Alex appeared to have been losing it earlier. "Hey Danielle, take a look at this." She set the Tome of Eternal Darkness on the small table, flipping to a peculiar looking page. Strange symbols were glowing on the page, along with the red and green sigils from the painting in the dining room.
"These are Magick runes," Alex explained. "These two, Xel'lotath and Chattur'gha, are alignment runes. They cause different effects when used with the spells."
Danielle played along, even though she knew about Magick. "Are you sure this will work? I mean, it sounds pretty crazy."
Alex nodded, closing the Tome. "It does. And I think the plaque in the kitchen has something to do with this." They both walked into the kitchen, and Alex pointed to the pantry door. "There. That symbol was something different before. I read in the chapter page that this man enchanted a sword and unlocked the door. So that means…"
"We need a sword to get this thing open. Great idea, but where is one."
Alex set down the Tome and the counter and opened it to another page. She said something, and a sword appeared in her hand. "The Tome can also store things. Pretty nifty, if you ask me." She handed the Roman Gladius to Danielle, who took it hesitantly. Alex turned the Tome back to the page with the runes and gave Danielle a small grin. "You go ahead and try it. Just say these three runes in this order without moving, and it should work." She pointed to Antorbok, Magormor, and Chattur'gha, and Danielle nodded.
"Here goes nothing…" she whispered. "Antorbok, Magormor, Chattur'gha." Red lightning shot into the Gladius, and the whole sword began to glow red. Without warning, a sudden burning pain shot into her hand where it touched the Gladius. Danielle yelped in pain, dropping the sword. "Okay, is it supposed to burn when you touch it?" she asked, gingerly touching her hand.
Alex picked up the Gladius and shook her head. "Doesn't happen to me. Weird… Well, it seems we can both use Magick. You just can't really wield whatever you enchant." She walked over to the pantry door and slid the sword into the slot. It vanished, and Alex pulled open the door. Danielle laughed as a rat skittered out and darted past Alex, making her scream. "Oh shut up…" Alex muttered. "I'm sure you would've screamed, too."
Danielle chuckled, grinning mischievously. "Maybe, maybe not. I've dealt with furry animals jumping out of nowhere before." Before Alex could ask what she meant, Danielle changed the subject. "Anyways, what's in there?"
"Just a bunch of food, that's all. Cereal, bread… Hey, I've got something!" Alex pulled out a glass container full of spices and a single piece of paper. She leaned the Gladius against a shelf and twisted off the lid. From where she was, Danielle could smell the faint aroma of exotic spices. But when Alex pulled out the chapter page, her vision faded to black, and she saw yet another vision.
Pious stood in the Portal Chamber, waving his left hand horizontally over the ground. Five red runes formed on the ground, and Chattur'gha's image appeared. Pious bowed before the image and began to speak. "My liege, the future is yours. The Light in the Age of Darkness has been extinguished. The Pillar of Flesh has been constructed. The Master of Chaos, the 'Keeper of the Ancients', is long dead. The planets will be in alignment soon. All is prepared for your arrival. I will begin the final incantation to bring you into our world within days. The next millennium will truly usher in a new age. Your Guardians now prepare the gate!" he exclaimed, raising his hands and staff into the air.
"This page talks about Maximillian Roivas, it seems. Have you ever heard of him?" Alex looked up at Danielle and noticed a distant expression on her face. Right when Alex asked "Well?" Danielle came to.
"Well what?"
"Have you ever heard of Maximillian Roivas?" Alex asked, slightly suspicious. This was the second time Danielle spaced out. What was going on?
"Can't say it sounds familiar." Danielle shrugged. "I'll check the library while you read the page. Maybe I can find something." She went to walk out of the kitchen a bit too quickly, but Alex grabbed her wrist and held it firmly.
"Danielle, what're you hiding? You've been acting weird ever since I found the third chapter in the Tome. You're my sister, Danielle, the only person I have left. Please, just tell me what's wrong."
Alex noticed a flicker of fear and sadness in Danielle's eyes, but it quickly passed. "All right," she said quietly. "I've been seeing these things while you've read the Tome of Eternal Darkness. Yeah, I know what it is. I even know about the people in those pages. Every time you read them, I see the events like I'm actually there. Just now, though… That was different. You picked up the page, and I saw Pious speaking with the Ancient, Chattur'gha. I don't know why I'm seeing this, but it's really starting to scare me sometimes."
Alex gripped her sister's shoulder gently, understanding what was wrong. While she had been dealing with these hallucinations, Danielle had been seeing things that were hard to read about, let alone see. "Don't worry. I've been seeing some freaky things, too, but nothing compared to that. Just remember that we're sisters now. You're not alone anymore. You can trust me."
Danielle nodded, fierce determination in her eyes. "Yeah. Guess I've been alone so long I'm not used to it." A small smile spread across her face. "Come on. Let's hurry up and read this page. The sooner we get out of this freak house, the better."
Alex returned the smile and walked to the library. "You've got that right."
Edward watched as his granddaughters entered the library, and he let out a small sigh. From his spot above the dining room doors on the balcony, he had heard the entire conversation without being noticed. Maybe now that Danielle had gotten the weight of keeping the visions a secret off her shoulders, it would be a lot easier for her to get through this night.
He noticed the other ghostly resident of the Roivas Estate appear to his left, but he let Maximillian speak first. "You know that child is Xel'lotath's target, do you not?"
"I am well aware of it. But what do you propose I do? Tell Alex that she had to kill her own sister?"
Max continued on as if he didn't hear Edward. "If Xel'lotath gains control, she will surely return to this world. There would be no hope for humanity. Our sacrifices will have been for naught."
"Do you have any idea what that child has been through? Or are you too heartless to even care to know she has lost her entire family to Pious?" Edward asked in a cold tone.
"Nothing is wrong with me, Edward. It is you who has grown too soft-hearted. Your granddaughter died years ago. All that's here now is an empty shell, a puppet for Xel'lotath. Putting her out of her misery now would be a blessing compared to what will happen once she loses control."
Edward's temper flared. "And this is coming from one who killed every servant, guilty or not, because he believed they were Bonethieves? I know what I am doing. Just as she is a Seer, I am one, too. I've seen what she will accomplish, even after this night. What she will do far outweighs the risks. Now, leave me be, Maximillian."
"Nothing outweighs the return of an Ancient," Max whispered darkly as he faded away.
Edward stared at the library door, his anger dying away. Maybe Max was right, but it was also possible he was wrong. He had to just wait and see. But if the time came, would Alex be able to go through with it?
"Be strong my children… Just be strong…" he whispered.